Implement handle securing key



Dec. 1, 1953 J. E. GIRARD 2,661,252

IMPLEMENT HANDLE SECURING KEY Filed Aug. 31, 1950 Joseph E. GirarJ (Mam QINVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 1, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IMPLEMENT HANDLE SECURING KEY Joseph E. Girard, Lewiston, Idaho Application August 31, 1950, Serial N 0. 182,500

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to wedges and equivalent securing and fastening devices commonly used for positively fixing the shank or end of a wooden handle or the like in the socketed head of tools and implements, for example, hammers, hatchets, picks, axes and the like and has more particular reference to an improved handle and reliable keying means carried by the handle and fixed to the complemental head.

One object of the invention is to provide novel and improved wedge-equipped key means simple and practical in nature in which manufacturers, users and others will find their expected needs fully met, contained and effectually available.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple and economical keying means of the stated type wherein the wedge and key are virtually embedded in the shank of the handle and wherein the key has an extended terminal provided with a hook, the latter to accommodate a pry-bar which will assist in fitting the shank in the socket in the head to insure more effective coaction between the handle and head.

More specifically, one phase of novelty has to do with a wooden or equivalent handle having a shank at its outer end, said shank being provided with a horizontal bore at right angles to the axis of the shank providing a pocket for a wedge and being further provided with a pre-cut groove, the latter constituting a key-way, opening at its outer end through the corresponding end of said shank and communicating at its inner end with an end portion of said bore.

Then, too, novelty is predicated on the adoption and use of a comparatively soft metal keying device characterized by a wedge at its inner end, said wedge being provided at one end with a right angularly disposed key, said key being polygonal in cross-section and provided at its outer end with a prying hook which may be cut off with a cold chisel, leaving a small protruding portion to be battered down with a hammer and clenched against the head to bring about a positive locking result.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a view of a fragmentary type which is partly in section and partly in elevation and which shows the improvement constituting the instant invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical central section taken on 2 the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the improved handle, keying device and head in readiness to be assembled and fastened together.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figure 3, the numeral 4 designates an implement head. This happens to be an axe head but may represent, insofar as the invention is concerned, any other implement or tool head such as a hammer head, pick head or the like. The head is provided with an open ended handle socket 6 and has a flat surface at 8 which serves in a manner to be hereinafter described. It will be understood, however, that the head is a conventional unit of the over-all combination.

The wooden or equivalent handle is denoted at 10 and has a tapered or wedge-shaped shank l2. As shown best in Figure 1, the shank is provided with a transverse or horizontal bore which opens, by preference, through opposite longitudinal edges. The bore is substantially keyhole shaped in cross section, as best shown in Figure 2. It therefore includes a cylindrical main passage I3 and a narrower substantially rectangular passage l4. Formed in one longitudinal edge of the shank is a pre-cut channel or groove I6 constituting a keyway, as best shown in Figure 3, and this is polygonal in cross section and opens at its outer end through the outer end l8 of the shank and communicates at its inner end with the bore. This bore may be broadly referred to as a horizontal pocket for reception of a wedge. The wedge and keying unit or device is generally denoted by the numeral 20 and is of one-piece relatively soft metal and includes a wedge or anchor having a rounded lower or basal portion 22 and a feather-edge portion 24. The portion 22 fits into the larger passage [3 and the featheredge portion 24 fits into the slot or narrower passage I4. Thus, when the wedge is driven home it lodges itself firmly in the pocket means provided therefor by the stated bore. This is due to the fact that the cross section of the wedge or anchor 20 is greater than the cros section of the pocket, as clearly indicated in Figure 2. The key proper is integral with one end of the wedge and is denoted by the numeral 26 and is polygonal in cross section and is adapted to fit flush in the key-way provided by the groove Hi. The key is of a length somewhat greater than the length of the keyway and has an extended end portion 28 formed with a hook 30. It will be obvious, therefore, that when the wedge device is in place as shown in Figure 1 the hooked extension means 28 and 30 extends beyond the adjacent surface of the head. The hook may then be used as a sort of a prying claw. That is to say, by placing the end of a pry-bar (not shown) underneath of the bill of the hook 30 one is assisted in pulling the shank into and through the socket means 6. With the outer end l8 flush with the end surface 8 of the head the extended portion 28 is then clipped ofi lifitoo longfiwith a coldchisel. If of the length shown in Figure'l all that is necessary is to reverse bend the portions 30 and 28 and to clench same against the surface 8' of the head, as shown in dotted lines at32 in Figure 1.

With the assemblage shown in Figure 1' 'itis obvious that the keying device is securely.. lodged and in fact effectively embedded in the shank after which the clenched end 32 serves to provide a positive lock and to thus securely assemble and 'retain the handl'e in -the socketed head.

It is to be noted that the wedgetor anchorrzd is of a' length-appreciably less" than the length of the b're,-thus providing unused space ationeiend of the bore to assist' inpiloting a drift tool into contact with the wedge 24 for backing the latter out of the'bore. What is' 'more, the key is pre-assembled in the bore and-key-way before the shankis inserted and -fitted'in the socket-of the implement head, thereby faoilitating the' step offitting the shank I2 in the socket 6.

Itis though't that'person's skilled in the art to which theinvention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding ofthe invention after con-- -'sidering' the "description in'connection with the drawings. 'Iherefore, a-more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes "in'the shape, size and'arrangement of details coming within the held of inven- 4 tion claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

5 Implement handle, head, and fastening means, in combination, comprising a head having an open ended handle socket, a handle telescopically fitted into said socket, a shank on said handle having a pre-cut keyway in one longitudinal edge portion parallel to andii'openingia'gainst a corre- "sponding wall of said'handle socketj'a pre-cut pocket of keyhole shape formed in said shank and Opening through the opposite longitudinal edges of-said shank, .said pocket communicating with said keyway at right angles to the latter and a "key insertedin said keyway, said key having a 'ilateralanchor on its lower end, said anchor being fitted into said pocket, said pocket being of a greaterlength than said anchor providing unused space at one end whereby a drift tool may be inserted to back said anchor out'of said pocket, and said key being of a greater length than 'said 'keyway, the vupper end of said key projecting above said head and terminating in ahook.

JOSEPH E. GIRARD.

References Cited in the. file oflthis patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Number Name iDate 255,166 Hardie Mar. 21,1882 453,595 'Jefieris June 2,1891 815,058 Atwell Mar. 13,1906 1,190,239 Dungan July 4,1916 1',259,704 Ze'ckendorf ';Mar.l19,'1918 FOREIGNJPATENTS Number Country Date 40,041 Sweden "Jan 19,'- 1916 160,962 Great Britain Aprf'l, 1921 40 603,037 France Jan.6;'-1926 

